Brolo Castle

History of Brolo Castle

Dating back to the XNUMXth century, Brolo Castle is located on top of a spectacular promontory overlooking the sea below, dominating the picturesque village with its tower.
This manor was the residence of Frederick II's wife, the princess Bianca Lancia, mother of Manfredi but also many nobles were lucky enough to reside in this castle as well as many famous people all attracted by the beauty of the context in which this ancient building is located.

Known by the name of Voab in Norman times- which translated means Rocca Marina, due to its decidedly strategic location - today what remains is only part of the original complex consisting of two access portals, the curtain wall, a tower that rises four floors ending in a crenellated terrace and the courtyard at the center of which there is a well with a hexagonal shape.

Going up to the second floor of the crenellated tower you enter a large reception room where there is access to the panoramic balcony which offers a wonderful view of a part of the Saracen Coast towards Messina.
Singular is the legend that tells of this balcony where the daughter of Vincent I, Maria the Beautiful she was used to waiting for the lover who arrived from the sea and who, once he arrived under the tower, used the woman's very long braids to climb up to her.

But Maria's brother, realizing what his sister was doing, waited for his lover behind a rock to strike him to death. Maria, ignoring the fact, continued to wait for her beloved in vain until the end of her days and, it is said that at night, it is still easy to meet her ghost who appears to the fishermen of the area who happen to pass by. .

Architecture and any works of art present

Brolo Castle is in Norman style and, as mentioned, access is via two doors of which the main one has a sandstone arch dominated by a marble high relief where shields are sculpted, each of which bears the coat of arms of a family .
In this case, it is the coats of arms of the Alagona, of the Pirainos, Spear and the Moon gods. The writing can also be found engraved on this main door "Imperium Rexit Blanca – Hoc and Stipite Natus Manfredus Siculus Regia Sceptra Tulit". The second door, the one behind the castle, is called Fausa and also in this case bears an inscription that reminds us Conrad III.

The present curtain wall is, in some sections, incorporated with city walls erected subsequently and, together with the courtyard with hexagonal well, is dominated by the mighty mass of the keep.
The tower also differs due to the presence of a cylindrical turret set against the northern wall, inside which there is a spiral staircase that allows you to reach all four floors up to the terrace characterized by an unmistakable battlement.

Both the ground floor and the first floor both have a barrel vault while the reception room located on the second floor is characterized by a cross vault where the Lancia coat of arms stands out. It is also the only room that has openings on each side and a panoramic balcony facing the Saracen coast where you can admire it Cape Calavà , Ciavole Tower.

What can be done

The Brolo Castle includes within it two important attractions to visit and which are the Museum of Coastal Fortifications of Sicily and Museum of Punishment and Torture.
The first museum tour is combined with a multimedia session located within the various environments where panels are placed which outline the most significant examples relating to the fortifications of the island's coasts and narrate the evolution of the systems over the centuries of defense.

The Museum of Punishment and Torture was born as a testimony of what were the instruments used for torture and capital executions during the period of Middle Ages. It is a more than exhaustive historical representation of the atrocities that accompanied that dark period and which attracts much interest from visitors.

It should be remembered that torture, which has always been present in all cultures, was a barbaric method of punishment that was also widely used to extract false confessions or important information. The Museum includes several instruments of torture and death that have been diversified by type, use and historical era. Among the most disturbing objects you can see the Garrote, the Inquisitorial Chair, the Thumbscrew, the Pillory, the Heretic's Fork, the Spanish Horse, the Crippling Stork, the Drunkard's Barrel, Judas' Cradle and much more .

How it is possible to get to Brolo Castle

By car:
Highway A/20 Messina-Palermo and exit at the Brolo junction, alternatively take the Strada Statale 113 Messina-Palermo

© Effems, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Daniele Napolitano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons